Confessions of a Salesman

Chapter 576 Xiaoyue Appears
I didn't mention work matters, but Joseph couldn't hold back his temper, and said first: "After an afternoon of discussion, we feel that there is still a lot of room for cooperation between the two of us. Regarding the questions you raised, we In our letter of intent, some improvements have been made, and we can study it in detail tomorrow."

I raised my glass and said, "Thank you very much Joseph for making concessions to our cooperation. I suggest that we have a toast together. There is a saying in China that's a shallow feeling, a lick, a deep feeling, and a sip." I will do it first!"

Under normal circumstances, after saying this, most people would drink it in one gulp, but after the translator finished speaking, Joseph just took a sip and then made an exaggerated expression.

I held up the empty glass in embarrassment, and didn't realize it for a long time. What does he mean?
George on the side smiled and said: "Joseph thought you meant that, according to the depth of the relationship, if you drink your own wine, the relationship between him and you can only drink so much, and if you drink more, it will be overwhelming. A more measured performance."

I smiled and said, "I can't persuade you about this wine, the wine culture is different!"

George explained: "Drinking is a kind of pastime for foreigners. They like to go to the bar directly after work. They don't have the habit of looking at the food and drinking. They usually go to eat after drinking, or just treat it as a meal after drinking. Eat. And they seldom talk about business while drinking. They think that drinking will affect their judgment. They also don’t have the habit of persuading them to drink. If not, they think whoever wins should drink."

I smiled and nodded and said, "Cultural differences, what a difference!"

Dong Zong said to Joseph in a pleasant atmosphere: "Is this your first time in China? Regardless of whether this negotiation is successful or not, I warmly invite you and your team to stay in China for a few more days to appreciate Let’s take a look at China’s beautiful mountains and rivers, as well as its food culture.”

Joseph politely replied: "Thank you for your invitation. I think we should put negotiation first. I know that you Chinese like to make friends and are very hospitable. I agree with this very much. Anyway, I always hope to have such a group of hospitable Chinese friends.”

After finishing speaking, he pointed to me and said: "He doesn't look very friendly, but I have met him and think he is a real and hospitable friend. I know that today's dinner was specially arranged for us by him, and I also know that he sent someone to wait for us. One afternoon!"

I smiled and said, "This is what we should do. When we get to Europe, on your territory, you should do the same, OK?"

Joseph was a little surprised that I didn't ask for an interpreter, but directly replied to him in English. He asked me, "Do you know English?"

I smiled and said, "I don't know a little English, I think I was in Cambridge University..."

Dong Zong immediately stopped me and said: "Stop! Stop! Stop! If you keep blowing it up, you will be exposed. It's still Cambridge University. Do you know which province in the UK Cambridge University is in?"

I asked curiously: "Is Britain also divided into provinces?"

Dong Zong said angrily: "You really should go outside for a walk. The administrative divisions of the UK are not called provinces, but counties. There are also many municipalities directly under the central government, which are not under the jurisdiction of the county."

I grumbled and said, "That's right, so what's the point of dividing such a place? It's not as large as our provincial university."

Joseph has been listening to and translating our conversation curiously, half understanding.

Joseph and I said, "You ask your translator to eat something. It's been a busy day. I just stand behind you and watch you eat. There is no need for her here. We can communicate normally."

Joseph nodded and asked the interpreter to eat, and the interpreter nodded gratefully to me.

As soon as the interpreter left, I started to play tricks: "You really should change an interpreter. An interpreter who has not lived in China for 7 or 8 years can't translate our words at all. First, the dialect is not spoken, but pure Mandarin, the same word. Different intonations, different pronunciations, there are many interpretations."

After finishing speaking, he pulled George over and said: "He has been in China for many years, and he can be regarded as a Chinese expert, but many times, he can't tell what I mean. We are Chinese, and we don't understand what we are doing at any time. Speak, do you understand what I'm saying?"

Joseph was stunned for a while, seeming to understand, but also seemed not to understand.

I yelled at George and said, "Look, I passed him out, do you understand what I said? Translate for him!"

George shook his head and said, "I don't understand what you're talking about either!"

After a meal of wine, 7 or 8 of them were drunk, and the negotiation had to be changed to tomorrow afternoon.

When I went to work in the morning, Dong Zong kept complaining to me: "You don't care about the occasion or the person, you are all drunk, what a waste of time!"

I said with a smile: "It's better to be drunk, and take them down in one fell swoop this afternoon while they are still hungover!"

Dong Zong smiled and said, "You have a good idea, they are still very strict in their work, please be careful in the afternoon, and don't make mistakes."

When it was almost noon, An An told me that two Koreans were looking for me.

Because I didn't have any appointments before, I hesitated for a while. I didn't know why Koreans were looking for me, but I still wanted to see what they wanted me for, so I agreed.

An An led two Korean men into my office.

The two Korean men are similar to the actors in the Korean dramas I have watched. They are dressed in suits and keep bowing when they meet, which makes me feel at a loss.

After handing over the business card, it was all in Korean, which I couldn’t understand at all, which made me a little upset, so I held up the business card and said in English: “I don’t understand!”

The two Korean men immediately nodded and said in blunt English: "We still have a translator outside, and we didn't let her in without your consent!"

I pressed the phone and said to An An: "Did they bring a translator, please ask her to come in!"

An An hesitated and said, "Mr. Chen, are you sure you want to let her in?"

I groaned and asked, "Why didn't you let her in?"

When she walked in, I didn't know why An An asked such a question.

It was none other than Xiaoyue, my closest assistant before.

I looked at Xiaoyue who hadn't changed a bit, and asked, "When you were with me, I didn't know you could speak Korean?"

Without a trace of nervousness, Xiaoyue said openly, "I'm originally from the Chao clan, and Korean is my mother tongue. Of course I know it."

I groaned and said: "It seems that I am really a hidden dragon and a crouching tiger here. I haven't developed your skills yet. Tell me, what are you doing with these two Korean sticks?"

Xiaoyue said a little displeased: "Please respect our Korean compatriots!"

I smiled and said, "Hey, when did you become a Korean citizen? Let's get down to business. Why are you here looking for me?"

Xiaoyue said seriously: "These two are the overseas marketing directors of Dashang Supermarket in Korea. This is Director Han, and this is Director Cui. The main purpose of our visit this time is to talk to you about the development of Wanzhong's overseas market. Cooperation."

The two Korean officers nodded slightly to me again.

I fiddled with the business card in my hand and said, "Dashang Supermarket? I haven't heard of it. Is it very famous in Korea? I don't plan to push Wanzhong to the Korean market right now? It's not very likely, right? Koreans don't always Do you know that the household appliances you produce are the best products in the world? How can you use Chinese products?"

Xiaoyue translated it chatteringly, and then one of the Korean officers spoke again, and Xiaoyue translated, "What Officer Han means is that we want to push Wanzhong's products to the European and American markets, not the Korean market."

I snorted and said, "That's even more impossible. Their own country's home appliances are so famous and well-known all over the world. How could they promote our products?"

After a translation, Xiaoyue explained: "Dashang Supermarket is a multinational enterprise. The supermarket covers products from countless countries, including countless Chinese products. What we do is business, which has nothing to do with patriotism. As long as it can make money, we will sell good products!"

I thought for a while and said, "That's a good point. I wonder how many Dashang Supermarkets have opened in Europe? How many European countries have they covered?"

Xiaoyue responded quickly: "There are 78 supermarkets, covering almost the whole of Europe."

I questioned: "Am I ignorant? Or are you fooling me? Why haven't I heard of it? Although I haven't been to Europe, I still did some research. I know supermarket chains, including French ones. There are American ones, even Thailand ones, Taiwan ones, I know all about them, but I have never heard of Korean ones, there are a few in China, but they are all small and pitiful, and they are all small supermarkets selling cosmetics and daily necessities.”

Xiao Yue sneered: "It's not surprising that you don't know, because the English abbreviation of Dashang Supermarket is 'D&S', you are familiar with this, right? Its boss is Korean, but it has always been run by Americans. A kind of misunderstanding, this is opened by the Americans!"

I snorted and said, "Just do some hidden tricks! Then you should call the Americans to talk to me? Why did the Koreans come forward directly? It shouldn't be, I shouldn't have such a big face?" "

Xiaoyue explained: "Now we have fully withdrawn our management rights, and now we are looking for our own agency brand all over the world. Wanzhong is also included in it. You should feel honored!"

I smiled and asked, "Is this your word? Or are you translating their words?"

Xiao Yue asked, "Is there a difference?"

I grunted and said, "Of course there is a difference. If you say it, I'll let it go as a fart. If it's them, tell them that Wanzhong has a lot of choices now. It's not necessarily that they like us. We You have to work hard with them. As you know, there are many rules and regulations for cooperating with Wanzhong, especially when you come. One is distrust, and the other is disdain to work with them!"

Xiao Yue said angrily: "Is this interesting? You are harming the interests of all people by doing this!"

I rolled my eyes and said, "So what? You bit me? How do I know, will you bully me again? People like you are not trustworthy, so you shouldn't have come to me. You should know my answer!"

Xiaoyue didn't know how to translate with the Koreans. The Koreans were obviously a little anxious, and said to me directly in blunt Chinese: "Mr. Chen, we came here with full sincerity. We have studied your products. , we feel that cooperating with our big business will bring you a lot of benefits and no harm, I hope you can think carefully about it!"

Having said that, I don't want to be too rude, so I said: "Okay, you might as well put forward the conditions for you to represent our products first, and I will think about it."

The man immediately took out a document, handed it to me, and said: "We have already done it, you may wish to refer to it."

I took the document, glanced at it roughly, then put it on the table and said: "Okay, I will read it carefully, and I will find someone to inform you of the result when the time comes!"

The attitude of the two Koreans towards me was a little disappointed, and they talked to Xiaoyue a few more times.

Xiaoyue said helplessly, "Can you stop being so naive, do business, don't involve personal feelings, can you be more rational?"

I shook my head and said, "Don't make it seem like we have any feelings. In the past, you and I were superiors and subordinates. If you don't betray everyone, we may still be friends, but now we are not even friends. I can let you see me." , is already the greatest tolerance for you! I am very rational, you are the one who is irrational, you shouldn't come, if it were someone else, I might really think about it seriously, but now I really don't think about it Yes. Out of courtesy to the two of them, it’s good that I didn’t leave this document on the spot! Please go back!”

Xiao Yue said angrily: "You are really unreasonable, I will go to Mr. Dong and tell you that you are really good at playing the piano!"

I snorted twice and said, "It's all a routine. If I can't make sense here, I just go to Mr. Dong. If you can find something to talk to Mr. Dong, you will come to me? You are not the first!" It’s time to find Mr. Dong, and you will come to me. You already know that it is only useful if I agree. Even if Mr. Dong agrees, you still have to go through me. You and I have been with me for so long, how could you not know? Woolen cloth?"

Xiaoyue stood up directly, the two Koreans were very polite, bowed to me again, and then left silently.

The moment Xiaoyue walked out of the office, I suddenly asked, "Why?"

Xiaoyue was stunned for a moment, and asked back: "What why?" But she immediately responded and replied: "It's for money, why else!"

I said puzzledly: "For money? Why didn't you tell me? I can give it to you!"

Xiaoyue snorted and said, "Give it to me? Why do you give it to me? Who are you to me? Or do you want to lend it to me? Don't you have to pay it back? I've earned half my life's money in one go, although I violated my conscience, but my conscience is worthless, isn’t my life pretty good now? At least I don’t have to worry about daily necessities anymore!”

I was speechless for a moment, and I stared blankly at Xiaoyue, who let out a hey and walked out of the office.

(End of this chapter)